Pro-touring, form or function?

[mike343sharpstick]

I gotta throw this out there. Is it just me, or is this pro-touring fad just a look with no actual concern on how it actually works. At the moment I beleave the answer to be “yes, just a look”. I hope I am wrong.
I have yet to see how some of these billion dollar pro-touring cars stack up against to say, a new mustang, or a new BMW M3, or even better… how does is stack up against that 24hr Lemons MOPAR or the crew cab Chevy?!
Where does the zillion dollar hot-rod muscle car with jumbo sway bars and pimpin’ 20’s stack up, Hmmmm?

[Bamfster]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

Where does the zillion dollar hot-rod muscle car with jumbo sway bars and pimpin’ 20’s stack up, Hmmmm?

That's the reason I don't really care for pro touring cars.

[Not A Duster]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

Same as anything else. It's both. Or neither.

Depends on the car and it's owner - be if pro touring, pro street, street machine or whatever label you want to toss at it. There's the drivers and theres the posers....

[cal67ss396]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

C'mon I would really like to see a totally Pro-Touring-ed out 69 Camaro (I mean a money is no object car) go up against a stock Ferrari or something comparible. Just think what the outcome would be.

[tiresmoke!]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

There are the few cars that actually do what they claim to, but like anything else, there's the AutoZone stick-on porthole versions too.

This reminds me of the new ads Nitto has out for their 20" drag radials......honestly, what's the point?

[VTJUNK]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

If I see it again, I'll get pics, but a few weeks ago at the drags I saw a pro-touring 67 Camaro, 16" wheels (I think) low profile tires, looked like a road race car, lowered, tubular suspension parts, swaybars, looked kind of ratty, with a few different colors of primer. Anyway, that thing ran good, I believe in the 11's. Looked like it was set up nicely, just needed some cosmetics. So, there's one at least that isn't a poser.

[milner351]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

Would the F-bomb be an example of a high buck car that can in fact do it all?

I hate posers, and I hate big wheels on just about anything, but that's just me.

I'm still in love with 50 and 60 series tires - they just look right on the cars I prefer, also, it's a lot easier to make a 15" wheel light and strong than a 20" wheel.

[dieselgeek]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

Agree on the "Every category has it's runners and posers" theme.

Real Street Eliminator is (was) one of the more interesting car tests to me. I like a car that gets truly tested and tuned for it's intended purpose. There are so many posers that people don't even realize are posers...

-scott

[Matt Cramer]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

I'd say there are two groups there - the ones who are really building a car to handle, and ones who are just building street machines with large wheels.

[BangShiftChad]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

I agree on some level. The trend toward big wheels came from the need to clear big brakes, but has turned into a style more than anything. Most of the cars that do have all the good handling parts, big brakes, power, etc. don't use them EVER. HR and several manufacturers had discussions for the past several years about doing a shootout much like a Drag Week event but for Pro Touring/ Handling cars. They don't have the time or the budget to do it.

We don't have the time, but I can get the support. Is anyone interested in something like that? I know you are interested in the coverage, but would anyone participate?

[squirrel]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

I already did, I got my junk to stop before the end of the shutdown area at the strip. What more is there? flying down the freeway at 70?

[milner351]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

Chad - I'd love to, but I simply can't afford to put a car together that would be competitive.

I think what keeps allot of folks from building a car that can really handle and really brake with the best of them is the high price of the parts required to do so.

Big Brakes and tubular suspension stuff is pricey - That's the biggest reason I can see keeping folks away from the "do it all" type of cars. It's pretty easy to build a 12 second street/strip car with stock front suspension and brakes.

[squirrel]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

If you have the $$$, you can go out and buy a brand new car that will handle a lot better than anything I'm gonna build!

[Brad54]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

It's just the modern version of Pro Street. A few of those cars really could run the number at the track, but most of them were posers.

I'll take a decent, mellow-looking, car with slightly above average performance at the drag strip or road course that's comfortable and RELIABLE day in and day out, over something with Air Ride, huge brakes, notchy 6-speed, finicky hydraboost power brakes, rubber band tires and NASCAR sway bars every time.

The Chip Foose/Unique Performance Pro Touring Camaro that hit a couple years ago didn't even have a dome light for God's sake. How do you build a $150K street car and not have a dome light?! That may seem stupid to say, but try finding the ignition switch in a dark parking lot at night, or your cell phone. Meanwhile, my buddy's '69 Camaro that he built himself from a totalled Z/28 has simple Global West parts, a GM EFI system on a late model small block, 700R4, 16-inch billet wheels, has Long Hauled Power Tour three times without a problem, and runs 12s on drag radials through the mufflers, driven to and from the track. Frequently. The mega-buck cars built by the company we worked for can't say that, on any score.

-Brad

[fast Ed]

Re: Pro-touring, form or function?

I agree with most of the comments made about the P-T trend, or fad, as it may turn out to be. I have 18s on my 68 Cougar, but that was done to clear the Ford GT brakes I have to go on the car. Also Konis, stiffer springs, and a larger front bar. Certainly not a full-on P-T car, but certainly more in that direction than a drag-oriented car. Having a circuit racing background, I tend to push my cars harder around corners, on and off ramps, etc., compared to most people.

Would love to see a competition that tests the handling, braking, and acceleration aspects. If it was east of the Mississippi, I would do my best to make it as a participant.


cheers
Ed N.